Hearts Card Game Rules

Play Free Hearts Card Game Online

Play the very popular, and fun, card game of Hearts. In this version of online Hearts you will play against three imaginary computer opponents. To begin play, simply click the picture below.

Learn How to Play Hearts - Understanding Basic Hearts Card Game Rules

If you are wondering, or if you want to know, how do you play Hearts online, you have come to the right place. Here I will explain the basic rules for Hearts. After this section you may, if you want to, watch an entertaining Hearts instructional video. Although the video talks about a different online game of Hearts than the one I have here on this site, so there will be a few things that may be slightly different, it still does a nice job of explaining things. However, the best way to really learn how to play Hearts is to simply click the picture above and just start playing. This particular version of Hearts, the one that I have here on my site, is an excellent teaching tool for anyone who desires to learn how to play Hearts. That's because each time it is your turn to make a play the game will give you a visual prompt and tell you exactly what to do; or if you attempt to illegally play a card that may not be played according to Hearts rules, the game will provide a clear explanation as to why that card may not be played at that particular time and then allow you to correct your mistake by playing a legal card. So after you get a couple of games under your belt you may not be an expert Heart's game player yet, but at least you will know the rules for Hearts.

• The game of Hearts is usually played with a standard 52 card deck, especially when there are four players involved. And that is the case here with this free Hearts game.
• As previously mentioned, in this computerized version, you will play against three imaginary computer opponents.
• When you open the game you will see four players pictured. You are represented by the shadowy figure at the bottom.
• For each hand, all 52 cards are dealt. Each player, including yourself, will receive 13 cards. Your cards are dealt face up so you can see them. Your 3 opponents cards are dealt face down.
• After looking at your cards you must pass 3 cards to one of your opponents except on every fourth hand where there is no card passing.
• The passing rotation is as follows: On the first hand you pass to the player on your left. On the second hand you pass to the player on your right. On the third hand you pass to the player across the table. On the fourth hand there is no passing of cards. This rotation repeats until the game ends. (Don't worry if you do not quite yet understand all of the passing rules. The game will show you what to do).
• To pass cards, click on each card you wish to pass. The card will go to the center. If you change your mind, click the card again to put it back in your hand. When you are sure of your choices, then click OK.
• After you pass your 3 cards you will receive 3 new cards from one of your opponents. You must click OK again to accept these three cards. (You have no other choice).
• Each round of play consists of 13 tricks with each player playing one card per trick until all 52 cards have been played.
• The player holding the two of clubs (after the passing) plays that card to start the first trick. (To play a card you simply click on it).
• Each time a player plays a card to start a trick each player must play a card of the same suit if possible. For instance, if a player begins the trick with a diamond each player must also play a diamond if they have any available diamonds remaining in their hand.
• If a player has no cards in the suit led, a card of any other suit may be discarded. Exception: If a player has no clubs when the first trick is led, a heart or the Queen of Spades (the "Black Lady") cannot be played.
• Card rank is as follows with ace being the highest card and two being the lowest: ace, king, queen, jack, ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, and then two.
• The highest card of the suit led wins the trick. The winner of the trick gets all the cards and starts the next trick.
• Hearts may not be led until a heart or the Queen of Spades has been played (this is called "breaking" hearts). The Queen of Spades can be led at any time.
• At the end of each hand, the number of hearts a player has taken, is counted; they count 1 point each. The Queen of Spades counts 13 points.
• If a player has won all 13 hearts and the Queen of Spades in a single hand (highly unusual), that player can choose to substract 26 points from his score, or he may add 26 points to every other player's score. This is commonly referred to as "shooting the moon".
• Hearts is played to 100 points. When any player reaches 100 points or more at the end of any round, the game ends immediately.
• The player with the lowest score wins!

Hearts Card Game Strategy

The card game Hearts is one of skill and strategy. Since your goal is to have the lowest score possible you will want to avoid winning tricks where hearts or the Queen of Spades is played (unless you have a highly unusual hand discussed below). I grew up playing Hearts card games. Although I am certainly no expert, I will try to give you the best tips that I can so you may win more often when you play Hearts games. But realize that Hearts the card game is also a game of subtlety. Each hand is different. What works with one hand may not work with another. You will need to exercise keen judgment. As you gain experience, you will develop your own strategies for playing this easy but highly sophisticated game.

• Keep in mind that lower ranking cards such as 2, 3, 4, and 5 are the best cards to have in your hand. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are okay. 10, J, Q, K, and A are generally the worst cards you can have. This is true with all of the suits, including the suit of hearts.
• Remember, except for every fourth hand, you get to pass 3 cards to one of your opponents. Which cards should you pass? It really of course depends on your hand, but here are my general thoughts. Pass any high heart, 10 and up. Pass the Queen of Spades. Also pass either the King or Ace of Spades, especially if you do not have other low ranking spades in your hand. Holding unto either the King or Ace of Spades may pose a serious danger because you may be forced, at some point, to take the Queen of Spades. Another thing to keep in mind is this. It is generally a good idea to keep as many low spades in your hand that you can. That is, spades that are lower in rank than the Queen of Spades. These lower ranked spades can protect you from being forced to either play the Queen, if you do happen to end up with her after the passing has concluded, or having to play either the King or Ace of spades and ending up with the Queen that way. Also pass any other high card such as a King or Ace in any suit. (The reason to pass high cards is, high cards win tricks; and in Hearts you generally do not want to win tricks. The player who wins the trick takes the cards and risks getting 1 point from each heart they take in, and 13 points for taking in the Queen of Spades).
• When you do pass cards to an opponent try to remember which cards you passed. Especially if you passed the Queen of Spades to an opponent, certainly keep that in mind.
• The general strategy in Hearts is to play a card low enough so you will not win a trick, and take in any cards, but still play the highest card possible. For instance, say a player leads a trick with the Jack of Diamonds. If you have a diamond in your hand you must play a diamond. The 10 of diamonds would be the best possible card to play and still not win the trick. Why waste the 2 of diamonds in this instance? Save that card for another trick.
• Somtimes you may want to win a trick especially if you are certain that the trick will not contain any hearts or the Queen of Spades. Lets use the last example but expand on it a little. Player 1 leads the trick with the Jack of Diamonds and players 2 and 3 do not play any heart or the Queen of Spades but they do play a diamond lower than the Jack. You are player 4 and play the last card of the trick. If you have a high diamond say the Q, K, or A of diamonds this would be a good time to play one of these high diamonds and win the trick. This way you are getting rid of a high card without taking in any points, which is a very good strategy!
• Sometimes, you may be in a situation where your cards dictate that you must win a trick, and you have no other choice. In these situations, always play the highest card possible to get rid of it. (With the one exception, of course, being the Queen of Spades).
• When I have a high card such as the King or Ace (of clubs or diamonds); if it is early in the round, say the second or third trick and it is my turn to lead I usually will lead with one of those Kings or Aces because usually very early in the round there is less of a chance that any opponent will be out of a suit. If that turns out to be the case, then I harmlessly win the trick with all clubs or all diamonds. I find that this strategy almost always works for me. Occassionally you may get stuck with a heart. And, one time I even got stuck with the Queen of Spades by doing this. But, I still think it is sound strategy. (Important: you defintely cannot do this with the King or Ace of spades or the King or Ace of hearts. If you led with the King or Ace of Spades the player with the Queen of Spades would obviously play it! If you did this with the King or Ace of hearts obviously you would end up with a bunch of hearts)!
• If you cannot follow suit with the lead card of a trick, this is a great opportuntity to get rid of some really bad cards. Isn't it nice to stick one of your opponents with the Black Lady (the Queen of Spades) or one of those high hearts like the 10, J, Q, K, or A of hearts? Not only are you getting rid of some rotten cards, you are causing your opponents to pick up points. (If you cannot follow suit, but do not have the Queen of Spades or any heart to dump on your opponent, play any high card such as a King or Ace).
• Notice when one, or more, of your opponents are out of a certain suit. Try to remember what suit, or suits, they are out of. Knowing this can work to your advantage.
• What if you are in the unlucky positon of having a very unusal hand. Let's say you have all, or almost all, of the high hearts in your hand; perhaps several of the lower hearts, and maybe you have the Queen of Spades too. Well, remember, there is that special rule that says if you win all of the hearts and the Queen of Spades in one hand you can either substract 26 points from your hand or give 26 points to all of your opponents. Again, this is called "shooting the moon". I would not suggest you try for this... it is certainly a high-risk strategy. But, it is certainly something to keep in mind.
• If you are going to try to shoot the moon in Hearts your passing strategy and your playing strategy will be the opposite of your usual play. Instead of trying not to win the Queen of Spades or not to win hearts, in a trick, you will instead want to win all of these cards. And, of course, to shoot the moon you must win every single one of them. Here is a good article about How to Shoot the Moon in Hearts. You may want to take just a moment to read it. Just about all of the information it contains will apply to the free online Hearts game that I have on my site, except for the part about passing wisely. Obviously since your three opponents are not human you can freely pass low cards without raising any suspicion about your strategy of trying to shoot the moon.
• Here is one final piece of strategy to keep in mind, and it is rather important. Watch the scoreboard carefully during each round. If one of your opponents looks like they may be capable of "shooting the moon" can you stop him or her from doing so? It would certainly be worth it to win a trick and pick up a few hearts if it can prevent an opponent from "shooting the moon" and either subtracting 26 points from his own score or adding 26 points to yours!

I hope you enjoyed learning how to play Hearts online. If you read this entire post, you should now have a good understanding of Hearts card game rules and hopefully have learned some basic strategies to help you win the game of Hearts. Hearts cards is a terrific game, I am sure you will agree. If you like this free Hearts Card Game, please share this page with your facebook, twitter, or Google+ friends by clicking on one or more of the share buttons below. Also, feel free to visit my other blog at Richard's Game Reviews where you can play hundreds of free games! Thanks.